Hillary Clinton: Occupy Wall Street Demonstrations “Have Been For Most Part Peaceful.”

In response to Belorussian complaints to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Hillary Clinton issued, through the US Mission to the OSCE, the statement below regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement and government handling of it. It’s an interesting read as Secretary Clinton (and the bevy of person who actually wrote) take pride in what Occupy Wall Street means saying:

We note that these demonstrations have shown in practice our respect for the universal right of the people to join together peacefully in order to voice their common concerns in exercise of their freedoms of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly, consistent with the rights guaranteed them by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

 After describing the protests as being “for the most part peaceful,” the statements pivots   nd attacks the Belorussians saying:

In reaffirming our respect for the freedoms of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly, we note the stark contrast between the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, which have reaffirmed the right to political expression, and the regrettable situation in Belarus, in which political prisoners have been imprisoned and mistreated because of their beliefs.”

The statement concludes with call on Belarus to “release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, to include the full rehabilitation of their civil rights,” while pledging to “hold accountable those Belorussian officials responsible for repressive actions”.

    State Department Cable: Hillary Clinton Describes OWS As Mostly Peaceful     

Hillary Clinton’s Statement to the OSCE Regarding Arrests of Natasha Lennard and Other Journalists During Occupy Wall Street Protests

On October 1, 2011, Natasha Lennard, then a freelancer for the New York Times, was arrested covering the Occupy Wall Street protests. Her arrest was just one of many arrests of journalists that have occurred since Occupy Wall Street started. 

These arrests sparked a widespread outcry about the sanctity of journalists. Among the parties that expressed their concern was Europe’s last remaining autocracy Belarus. Belarus took the matter to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. This prompted Hillary Clinton to issue the statement  below:

    State Department Statement to OSCE RE: OWS Media Arrests